Book review: Disability in mission by David C Deuel and Nathan G John
Book review: Disability in mission by David C Deuel and Nathan G John
17 December 2019
Followers of Christ believe all humans are created in God’s image; being his image-bearer is not dependent on our definitions of capacity, but his.
When the words ‘disability’ and ‘mission’ are linked, the unspoken connection is often that people living with disabilities or impairments are the recipients of ministry. 
This challenging book confronts that perception, advocating for truer inclusion of believers with disability as equal, active participants in all areas of Kingdom mission.
Those with such life experience are not a mercy project but a mission force, offering unique insights and connection with the communities they serve. As described by one contributor: “Shared weakness was like a bridge that connected my heart to theirs, regardless of race or religion.”
However, appropriate inclusion is most of all a matter of justice. The Church’s understanding of disability is frequently weighted by a secular perspective and insufficiently aligned with Scripture.
Followers of Christ believe all humans are created in God’s image; being his image-bearer is not dependent on our definitions of capacity, but his.
Our God deliberately chooses “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise”, the “weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27) – a God who handpicked Moses and Paul for key leadership, despite clear evidence of what the world would term impairments.
This book reminds us that God works through, not just in spite of disabilities, and those living with impairments remain equal partners in fulfilling God’s purposes.
Disability in Mission: The Church’s Hidden Treasure is available at Koorong.
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